Loan Programs

An undergraduate student, if need justifies, is eligible for an annual limit of $5,500 with an aggregate maximum of $27,500.

Please note: Due to limited funding, Ohio State may not be able to award the maximum Perkins allowable by program guidelines.

Repayment Terms

The Perkins Loan interest rate is currently 5%. No interest accumulates while you are enrolled at least half-time or during the nine-month grace period. Repayment of principal and interest begins nine months after you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment. Borrowers may be allowed up to ten years for repayment of this loan.

For more details, see The Student Guide, an official publication of the U.S. Department of Education, available in our office. You may also access numerous loan repayment calculators at www.finaid.org or www.ed.gov/directloan.

Loan Cancellation

You have the right to cancel all or part of your federal loan disbursement within 14 days of official notification. See complete loan cancellation procedures.

In order to receive this award, you will need to complete the acceptance online at your Student Center, accessible via Buckeye Link.

After accepting the Perkins Loan, you must complete and sign a promise to repay (also known as a promissory note). Borrowers have two options to complete the promissory note:

• an e-mail notification will inform you when the electronic promissory note is available. This e-mail will direct you to the Office of Financial Services website where you may sign your promissory note online.
• if you prefer to sign a paper note, the website will give you the option of requesting a paper copy. The paper copy will be mailed to the address you choose.

Once the note is completed, signed, and if paper, returned to the Office of the University Bursar, the funds will be disbursed to your account.

If you wish to decline or reduce the loan, you may do so online at your Student Center, accessible via Buckeye Link. To decline or reduce the loan after having accepted it, you may complete the Report Your Changes form or contact us via your osu.edu e-mail account at sfa-reportyourchange@osu.edu.

You may receive Perkins assistance as long as you continue to meet all eligibility criteria, including SAP, for receipt of federal aid.

Please note: If your FAFSA information changes as a result of verification, your award may change.

Once you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment, you are required to complete an exit interview to understand your rights and responsibilities and repayment terms. If you fail to repay your student loan(s), you may default on your loan. Default occurs when you become 270 days delinquent in making payments on your loans. If you default:

• the entire unpaid amount of your loan becomes due and payable.
• we will report your default to national credit agencies.
• we may sue you, take all or part of your federal tax refund or other federal payments, and garnish your wages so that your employer is required to send us part of your salary to pay off your loan.
• you’ll have to pay collection fees and costs, plus court costs and attorney fees.
• you’ll lose eligibility for other federal student aid and most other federal benefit programs.
• you’ll no longer be eligible for loan deferments (such as deferments while you’re in school, unemployed, or experiencing economic hardship).

To complete the Online Exit Interview, go to the Office of Financial Services website and click on "Online Exit Interview" in the Quick Links menu.